Decline and Fall [antikvár]

1 PAUL AT OAfOPD Mr Sniggs, the Assistant Dean, and Mr Postlethwaite, the Domestic Bursar, sat alone in Mr Sniggs' room in Scone College. They were the only dons who were at home that evening. Their colleagues were at parties in Oxford, or visiting friends, or attending meetings at other colleges, because it was the night of the annual Bollinger Club dinner - always a difficult time for those responsible for university discipline. In fact, it is not accurate to call this an annual event, because quite often so much trouble is caused that the Club does not meet again for some years. There is tradition behind the Bollinger; it takes its name from the famous champagne, and past members include men who are now heads of royal families. The last dinner was three years ago. What a wild, destructive night that had been! This was the first meeting since then, and old members had poured into Oxford from all over Europe especially for the occasion - foreign royalty, country gentlemen, Scottish landowners, smooth young businessmen, ambitious lawyers and politicians - to join those who were currently students at this great university. The party had already started. Mr Postlethwaite and Mr Sniggs could hear the sound of confused shouting and breaking of glass from Sir Alastair Digby-Vane-Trumpington's rooms. They listened eagerly, looking out of the window into the courtyard. 'The fines!' said Mr Sniggs, as he lit his pipe. 'Oh, yes! The fines they'll have to pay after this evening!' There is some excellent port that is only served to dons when